Machine tool with swivelling control console

ABSTRACT

A machine tool ( 10 ) has a working space ( 11 ), a housing ( 12 ) enclosing the working space ( 11 ), a control console ( 32 ) which serves to control the machine tool ( 10 ), and a joint ( 44 ) which is fastened to a wall ( 14 ) of the housing ( 12 ). The control console ( 32 ) is fastened to the wall ( 14 ) by means of the joint ( 44 ) in such a way that it can be swivelled about a vertical axis ( 51 ). The control console ( 32 ) is rigidly connected to the joint ( 44 ) according to a first embodiment, whereas according to a second embodiment the joint defines a first and at least one further operating position of the control console and is designed such that at least said first operating position is self-locking (FIG.  1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a machine tool having a working space, a housing enclosing the working space, a control console which serves to control the machine tool, and a joint which is fastened from outside to a wall of the housing and via which the control console is fastened to the housing in such a way that it can be swivelled about a vertical axis.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] Such a machine tool has been disclosed by DE 37 30 984 C1.

[0005] Larger machine tools often have a housing with a working space which is enclosed by it and in which the workpieces are machined by means of tools. The housing protects the surroundings from chips flying around and coolant splashes and reduces the noise level occurring outside the housing during the machining. In order to be able to gain access to the working space, e.g. during a workpiece change or during maintenance work, such housings are provided with one or more doors. Furthermore, such housings often have one or more window panes, through which the working space can be seen from outside.

[0006] For programming, tool management or other activities connected with the control of the machine tool, a control console is provided as a rule, this control console being fastened to the outside of the housing. In this case, the control console is usually arranged in such a way that an operator, while operating the control console, can at the same time look through one of the window panes into the working space in order to monitor the implementation of the input commands. Occasionally, however, it is necessary during such activities to look into the working space from different sides of the housing through window panes provided for this purpose. In order to permit this, a further control console having possibly restricted operating means can be provided on the relevant wall of the housing, as a result of which two different operating positions are created.

[0007] In the machine tool disclosed by DE 37 30 984 C1 mentioned at the outset, the operating console is fastened in a swivelling manner in the region of a vertical side edge (“corner”) of the housing. In this case, the operating console is mounted on a supporting arm in such a way as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, the supporting arm itself being linked to the housing via a conventional pivot joint in the region of the relevant side edge of the housing. This type of suspension enables the control console to be moved back and forth as desired between two “outer” operating positions by swivelling of the supporting arm and by additional rotation of the control console on the supporting arm. In this case, the geometry of the supporting arm with the control console fastened thereto in a rotatable manner and also the arrangement of the transparent window panes in the housing are selected in such a way that the control console can be actuated from different operating positions and at the same time the working space can be seen.

[0008] A disadvantage with the known machine tool, however, is that the supporting arm with the control console fastened thereto performs a comparatively widely spreading swivelling movement. The control console is also relatively far away from the housing of the machine tool in the two outer operating positions, so that the control console can only be easily operated by an additional rotation relative to the supporting arm. In addition, large lever forces are produced by the supporting arm extending far outwards, and these lever forces necessitate a correspondingly robust design of the joint and of the supporting arm itself. As a result, the entire construction becomes relatively complicated and thus expensive. In addition, the supporting arm projecting to a considerable extent has the further disadvantage that the entire machine tool requires a relatively large amount of space and it is therefore also easier for collisions to occur between the control console or the supporting arm, on the one hand, and vehicles or persons, on the other hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One object of the invention is therefore to improve a machine tool of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the swivelling between the operating positions is made possible in a simpler and therefore more cost-effective manner overall from the design point of view.

[0010] The invention achieves this object by the control console being rigidly connected to the joint.

[0011] This is because the inventor has recognized that two different operating positions can be made possible in a much simpler manner if the rotatability of the control console on the supporting arm is dispensed with and the control console is instead rigidly connected to one or more joints directly or via a small supporting construction. According to the invention, the hitherto conventional combined swivelling and rotary movement which was necessary when passing from one operating position into the other is replaced with a simple swing movement, as is known, for example, from doors or windows which are attached with the use of hinges. However, from the design point of view, this simple swing movement can be realized with substantially simpler means than is the case with a combined swivelling and rotary movement. Thus, on the one hand, the pivot joint between the supporting arm and the control console is dispensed with, the control console still requiring a special suspension or a supporting arm for this purpose. On the other hand, the supporting arm itself may be completely or partly dispensed with, since the vertical axis about which the swivelling movement is performed can run through the control console or can run in its immediate vicinity.

[0012] In addition, the omission of the additional pivot joint enables already existing control consoles which are fastened in neither a rotatable nor a swivelling manner to a housing to be converted to swivelling control consoles by relatively minor constructional measures.

[0013] Furthermore, the inventor has recognized that a long supporting arm requires not only a swivelling capacity of the control console on the supporting arm but also, conversely, the swivelling capacity of a long supporting arm. This is because, in the case of control consoles mounted on the supporting arm in a rotatable manner, it is to be ensured that the control console can be rotated in every swivelling position on the supporting arm without the control console coming too near to the housing of the machine tool in the process. In this case, a clearance which is too small could lead to an operator who takes hold of the control console and would at the same time like to rotate and also swivel it getting caught with his hand or arm between the housing and the control console. If the operating console is fastened rigidly to the joint, such a combined swivelling and rotary movement, which for the operator is not easy to see in its geometry, is ruled out. If the control console is attached like a door to the side edge or a wall of the housing, no gaps, which may lead to operators being put at risk by getting caught, are produced in the region of the joint.

[0014] In a preferred configuration of the invention, the joint is arranged at the level of the control console.

[0015] This has the advantage that the control console can be rigidly connected to the joint in the quickest way, namely at the same level. Projecting support-arm constructions extending downwards, upwards or to the side are thereby avoided.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferred if the vertical axis essentially coincides with a side edge of the housing.

[0017] This has the advantage that the control console can be swivelled about the corresponding side edge of the housing by up to about 180°. In this way, the control console can be operated from the two walls of the housing which form the relevant side edge of the housing.

[0018] In addition, it is preferred if the vertical axis essentially coincides with a side edge of a rear side, free of operating elements, of the control console.

[0019] In this way, the control console is rigidly connected to the joint directly, i.e. without an intermediate supporting construction. This leads to a minimum space requirement for the swivelling movement, since the maximum radius of the swivelling movement is established by the dimensions of the control console. Furthermore, in such an arrangement, no significant gap can occur between the housing and the control console, which gap possibly constitutes a source of danger for operators.

[0020] As an alternative to direct fastening of the control console to the joint, the control console may also be connected to the joint via a bearer.

[0021] By such an additional bearer, the spatial position which is assumed by the control console in one of the two operating positions can be specifically adapted to ergonomic requirements and the arrangement of the windows in the walls of the housing.

[0022] In this case, it is preferred if the bearer is rigidly fastened to a rear side, free of operating elements, of the control console.

[0023] Fastening the bearer to the rear side of the control console is advantageous in so far as no supporting constructions acting on the control console from the side or from above or below are thus necessary, which supporting constructions take up additional space and involve the risk of collisions with the operator.

[0024] It is a further object of the invention, that the control console can be swivelled between two operating positions, of which at least one is self-locking.

[0025] This measure, which in a machine tool of the generic type can also be taken independently of a rigid connection between the control console and the joint and is inventive on its own, ensures that the control console cannot be swivelled beyond the at least one operating position. As a rule, it will be expedient to secure both operating positions in this way, for which reason reference is always made below to both operating positions. Such self-locking is advantageous in particular from the safety point of view, since, when the operating positions are correspondingly established, it is ensured that the control console can at no time pass into the vicinity of the housing to such an extent that fingers or other body parts of operators can get caught. Furthermore, the self-locking, when an operating position is assumed, prevents the control console from swinging back in a dangerous manner, as is possible when running against rubber stops or other devices. In addition, since the forces which occur during such swinging-back are approximately twice as high as is the case during locking in the operating positions, the joint overall can be designed to be lighter and thus more cost-effective. Of course, it is possible to establish one or more further positions, at which self-locking is to occur, between the two “outer” operating positions.

[0026] The self-locking may be realized, for example, by means of latching hooks which are fastened at appropriate points of the control console and correspond with mating pieces which are fastened to the housing. When an operating position is assumed, the latching hook then engages in the corresponding mating piece and latches there. Not until actuation by an operator can the latching be neutralized.

[0027] However, it is especially preferred if the at least one self-locking operating position is established by the joint.

[0028] In this way, devices such as latching hooks or the like which are additionally attached to the control console and the housing can be dispensed with. Instead, the self-locking in the operating positions is effected solely by means of the joint. One possibility for this consists, for example, in providing friction surfaces on two parts of the joint which are movable relative to one another, these friction surfaces engaging only in certain relative positions of the two joint parts and effecting releasable locking only with additional expenditure of force.

[0029] However, it is especially preferred if, in the at least one self-locking operating position, the control console is lowered relative to intermediate positions.

[0030] This has the advantage that the deadweight of the control console and parts possibly connected to it is used for the self-locking. This is because, once the control console has been shifted into such an operating position and has been lowered in the process, it can only be removed again from the operating position by additional expenditure of force, which is necessary for lifting from the lowered state. Such lowering can be achieved, for example, by means of a joint having two joint bodies, the opposite surfaces of which each have a tooth system, the mutual engagement of which results in lowering.

[0031] A preferred development of this configuration is characterized in that the joint has two joint bodies which are arranged one above the other and are rotatable relative to one another about the axis, a guide body being formed on one joint body and a guide surface being established on the other joint body, the guide surface having at least one recess for locating the guide body, this recess establishing the at least one self-locking operating position.

[0032] In an especially simple manner from the design point of view, this measure achieves the effect that the control console is lowered and thus locked in such an operating position. The guide body is preferably a pin which is held in the one joint body in a captive manner. Here, the pin may be fastened in the one joint body either in a rotationally locked manner or else in a rotatable manner, in which case, although rotatable fastening requires a greater design input, it leads to lower frictional losses than sliding guidance of the pin on the guide surface. In this case, the guide body may be formed either on the bottom joint body or else on the top joint body. Accordingly, the recess may also be provided in the top or the bottom joint body. In addition, it is possible to provide a plurality of guide bodies and recesses, the case in which a guide body is formed on the bottom joint part and a guide body is formed on the top joint part also being conceivable.

[0033] In this case, the recess may be formed in such a way that the locking can only be neutralized again by the control console being lifted upwards by a short distance.

[0034] However, it is especially preferred if the at least one recess has a flank which is preferably designed as an inclined plane and via which the guide body is guided when assuming the at least one self-locking operating position.

[0035] On the one hand, this prevents the control console from being lowered with a sudden movement when assuming such an operating position. On the other hand, the locking is easier to neutralize by the control console being rotated and by the guide body thereby being directed up the flank. In the process, the distance between the two joint bodies increases, as a result of which the control console with the parts possibly fastened to it is lifted against the force due to its weight. The locking is therefore likewise released by swivelling, but with increased use of force. An operator will generally find this to be more pleasant than if the control console has to be lifted for releasing the locking.

[0036] In a further preferred development, the at least one recess is adapted in its shape to the guide body, so that, in the at least one self-locking operating position, the guide body is located with surface contact in the at least one recess.

[0037] This has the advantage that forces occurring during the lowering of the control console are distributed over a larger area. This reduces wear on the guide body and the recess.

[0038] In this case, it is also preferred if the guide body is designed as a pin, and the at least one recess has a curved section adapted to the circumferential contour of the pin, so that the pin can oscillate slightly in the at least one recess.

[0039] In this way, a damping effect is achieved when the control console assumes an operating position. This is because, on account of the oscillating movement of the pin and of the parts connected to it, the control console is briefly lifted, so that some of the kinetic energy which the control console has acquired during the lowering is converted again into a corresponding opposing movement. The loading of the joint bodies and of the guide body when reaching a self-locking operating position is reduced by this damping effect, a factor which leads to a prolonged service life and to lower costs.

[0040] In another preferred configuration of the invention, the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console.

[0041] Such an arrangement of the cable string permits a relatively large cable length overall, as a result of which damage to the cable string as a result of pronounced twisting is prevented. As a result, it is not necessary to have the cable hanging downwards to a relatively far extent, where it may possibly impair the freedom of movement of an operator.

[0042] It goes without saying that the abovementioned features and the features still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further advantages and features of the invention follow from the description of the following embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which:

[0044]FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a novel machine tool in which a control console can be swivelled about a vertical side edge of the housing;

[0045]FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 1, in which details of the articulation of the control console on the housing can be seen;

[0046]FIG. 3 shows a detail of the machine tool according to FIG. 1 in a horizontal section, in which different operating positions are shown;

[0047]FIG. 4 shows, in a representation like FIG. 3, a further embodiment of the novel machine tool, in which a control console is fastened to a wall of the housing of the machine tool in a swivelling manner;

[0048]FIG. 5 shows a perspective representation of a joint via which the control console is linked to the housing;

[0049]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the joint from FIG. 5 in a locking position;

[0050]FIG. 7 shows a side view of the joint from FIG. 5 in a swivelling position; and

[0051]FIG. 8 shows a detail of the joint according to FIG. 5 in a simplified side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] A machine tool according to the invention is shown in perspective in FIG. 1 and designated overall by 10. The machine tool 10 has a working space 11 in which various devices required for machining workpieces, e.g. a boring head traversable in three spatial directions, a tool magazine and a workpiece holder, are arranged. The working space 11 is enclosed by a housing 12 which has a top 13, a front wall 14, a rear wall 16, and a left-hand and a right-hand side wall 18 and 20, respectively. Attached to the front wall 14 are two sliding doors 22 and 23, through which machined workpieces can be exchanged for unmachined workpieces. Parts of the devices arranged in the working space 11 can be seen through a gap which is opened by the easily opened sliding door 22. Glass panes 24 and 25, respectively, are let into the sliding doors 22 and 23, so that the working space 11 can also be seen from outside when the two sliding doors 22 and 23 are closed.

[0053] The right-hand wall 20 has a laterally attached door 26, which permits maintenance work. Furthermore, arranged on the right-hand wall 20 is a sliding window 28, through which the working space 11 can also be seen during the machining of workpieces.

[0054] A control console 32 is fastened in a swivelling manner to a side edge 30 of the housing 12 at which the front wall 14 adjoins the right-hand side wall 20. On its front side 34, the control console 32 has a plurality of operating elements 36 and serves to control the machine tool 10. The machine tool 10, for example, can be programmed step by step by means of the control console 32; furthermore, this enables deliberate intervention in machining steps already programmed, e.g. if an operator discovers when looking into the working space 11 that a certain machining step has not been carried out as intended.

[0055] The electrical connection between the control console 32 and the parts of the machine tool which lie in the interior of the housing 12 is made via a cable string which is enclosed by a protective flexible tube 38. In this case, the protective flexible tube 38 with the cable string lying therein comes out of the rear side 40 (free of operating elements) of the control console 32 at the top end of the latter and, through an opening 42 which is provided below the control console 32 in the right-hand side wall 20, is passed through the housing 12 into the interior of the machine tool 10. On account of this arrangement, the protective flexible tube 38 is relatively long but without touching the ground in the process or without being in the way during swivelling of the control console 32. On account of its length, the cable string enclosed by the protective tube 38 is only slightly twisted during swivelling of the control console 32, a factor which permits the use of a lighter cable string with at the same time a long service life.

[0056]FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1, in which the control console 32 and its articulation on the housing 12 are shown enlarged. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the control console 32 is fastened via a top swivel joint 44 and a bottom swivel joint 45 to the side edge 30 which is formed by the front wall 14 and the righthand side wall 20 of the housing 12. The top swivel joint 44 is constructed like a hinge and has a top joint body 46, which is arranged concentrically to a bottom joint body 47 and is rotatable relative to the latter. In this case, the bottom joint body 47, in a manner not shown in any more detail, is rigidly fastened to the front wall 14 and the right-hand side wall 20. The top joint body 46 is rigidly connected to the rear side 40 of the control console 32 via a top bearer 48. The top bearer 48 is designed as a triangular bracket which is provided with an opening 49. The protective flexible tube 38 is passed through this opening 49 and comes out of the control console 32 at the top end of the rear side 40. The bottom swivel joint 45 and a bottom bearer 50 rigidly connected thereto are of identical design to the top swivel joint 44 and the top bearer 48.

[0057] Furthermore, additional panelling elements (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the sake of clarity) may be fastened to the two bearers 48 and 50, these panelling elements bearing against those side edges of the bearers 48 and 50 which project from the rear side 40. In this way, a shaft is produced behind the rear side 40 of the control console 32, and the protective flexible tube 38 is passed through this shaft so as to be protected from damage.

[0058] The hinge-like joints 44 and 45 permit a swivelling capacity of the control console 32 about the swivel axis 51 in the direction indicated by an arrow 53. In order to shift the control console 32 from the first operating position shown in FIG. 2 by solid lines into a second operating position shown by broken lines, the control console 32 merely needs to be swivelled by hand until the second operating position indicated in FIG. 2 by broken lines is reached. In this case, the two joints 44 and 45, in a manner explained in more detail further below, are designed in such a way that the control console is locked automatically in each of the two operating positions shown. At the same time, when establishing the operating positions, allowance is made for an adequate distance between the control console 32 and the respectively nearest wall of the housing 12. This distance is dimensioned in such a way that, even during a more vigorous swivelling movement, damage to the control console 32 as a result of striking the relevant wall or even injuries to fingers or other body parts, which possibly get in between the relevant wall and the control console 32, cannot occur.

[0059] The two possible operating positions are again shown in FIG. 3 by means of a horizontal section in the region of the side edge 30. In the first operating position shown by solid lines, an operator 52 has access to the operating elements 36 of the control console 32 and can at the same time look through the glass panes 24 and 25 into the working space 11. By swivelling through approximately 180° in the direction of arrow 54, the control console 32 passes into the second operating position, shown by broken lines. In this second operating position, an operator 52′ who is standing in front of the right-hand side wall 20 can reach the operating elements 36 of the control console 32 and can at the same time look through the sliding window 28 into the working space.

[0060] It becomes clear in particular from FIG. 3 that the rigid fastening of the control console 32 with the joints 44 and 45 permits a swivelling movement which only takes up a minimum space. Nonetheless, two ergonomically very favorable operating conditions are provided without the control console 32, for this purpose, being arranged so as to be additionally rotatable about a vertical body axis.

[0061] The angles at which the control console 32 is arranged in the two operating positions relative to the relevant wall of the housing 12 can be determined by the geometry of the bearers 48 and 50. Of course, the bearers 48 and 50 may also be dispensed with. The control console is then arranged parallel to the front wall 14 in the first operating position and perpendicularly to the right-hand side wall 20 in the second operating position.

[0062] Shown in FIG. 4 in a horizontal section is a further embodiment in which a control console 32 a is not linked to a side edge but to one of the four walls of the housing at a distance from such a side edge. In this case, the control, console 32 a is not connected via one or more bearers but directly with one or more swivel joints, of which only the swivel joint situated furthest at the top and designated by 44 a can be seen in FIG. 4. At the control console 32 a, the swivel axis established by the swivel joint 44 a therefore runs approximately through an edge 56 at the rear side 40 a of the control console 32 a. This construction enables the control console 32 a to be swung back and forth between a first operating position and a second operating position.

[0063] In the first operating position, which is shown by solid lines in FIG. 4, an operator 52 a can reach operating elements 36 a on the front side of the control console 32 a and at the same time can look through a first window 58 into a working space 11 a. In a second operating position, which is shown by broken lines in FIG. 4, an operator 52 a′ can likewise reach the operating elements 36 a and at the same time look through a second window 60 into the working space 11 a. In order to transfer the control console 32 a from the first operating position into the second operating position, the operator 52 merely has to take hold of the control console 32 a and direct it rearwards in the direction of arrow 62, so that it finally reaches a position which is parallel to the side wall 55. In addition, the side wall 55 may be any desired wall of the housing of a machine tool.

[0064]FIG. 5 shows the top swivel joint 44 in a perspective representation before assembly. The top joint body 46 has a solid cylindrical rotary body 70, which is attached from below to a likewise solid end part 72. Welded to the end part 72 is a locating part 74, to which, for example, the top bearer 48 can be fastened in a manner not shown in any more detail. Just below the end part 72, a pin 76 is inserted into the rotary body 70 into a blind hole (provided for this purpose) in a rotationally locked and captive manner such that it projects radially outwards beyond the rotary body.

[0065] The bottom joint body 47 has a sleeve 78, to which a second locating part 80 is welded at the side. In the assembled state, the second locating part 80 is fastened to a side wall of the housing in a manner not shown in any more detail. A sliding surface 84 is formed on the sleeve 78 on its annular end face 82 pointing upwards, this sliding surface 84 being defined on both sides by a first and a second recess 86 and 88, respectively. The first recess 86 has a concave section 90, the shape of which corresponds to the outer contour of the pin 76. This concave section 90 merges into a plane section of the sliding surface 84 via a flank 92 which is formed as an inclined plane sliding surface. The second recess 88 is designed in just the same way as the first recess 86 but in the opposite direction to the latter. During assembly, the rotary body 70 of the top joint body 46 is inserted into the sleeve 78 of the bottom joint body 47, so that the top joint body 46 is rotatable and movable in the axial direction, but is otherwise held in a fixed position in the bottom joint body 47.

[0066] Two special relative positions of the top joint body 46 relative to the bottom joint body 47, which correspond to two self-locking operating positions of the control console 32, are established by the first recess 86 and the second recess 88. Self-locking of the top joint 44 occurs in these relative positions, so that rotation of the two joint bodies 46 and 47 out of these special relative positions—and thus swivelling of the control console from one of the two operating positions—is possible only with additional expenditure of force. In this case, a maximum swivel angle 94, over which the top joint part 46 can sweep relative to the bottom joint part 47, is established by the first and second recesses 86 and 88, respectively.

[0067] The self-locking is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. FIG. 6, in a side view, shows the swivel joint 44 in the assembled and locked state. In this state, which corresponds to one of the two outer operating positions, the pin 76 is located in the first recess 86. Further rotation of the top joint body 46 against the direction indicated by the arrow 96 is not possible in this state, since the pin 76 rigidly connected to the top joint body 46 is held in place in this direction in the first recess 86. In order to release the locking, however, the top joint body 46 can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 96. The pin 76 arranged on the top joint body then slides along the flank 92, as a result of which the pin 76 lifts the top joint body 46 upwards, as indicated by the arrows 98 in FIG. 7.

[0068] If the top joint body 46 is rotated further in the same direction, the pin 76 finally reaches the sliding surface 84 which is formed on the end face 82 of the sleeve 78. In this state, the top joint body 46 can be rotated further relative to the bottom joint body 47, in the course of which only the sliding friction between the pin 76 and the sliding surface 84 has to be overcome. After traversing the maximum swivel angle 94, the swivel joint 44 assumes the second self-locking operating position by the pin 76 sliding down into the second recess 88. In the process, the top joint body 46 is lowered again onto the bottom joint body 47.

[0069] The geometric ratios between the pin 76 and the first or second recess 86 or 88, respectively, are shown in FIG. 8 in an enlarged representation. A difference in height

h between the sliding surface 84 and a lowest point 100 of the recess 86 determines the potential energy which is released on account of the force due to the weight of all the parts rigidly connected to the pin 76, that is, in particular, of the bearers 48 and 50 and of the control console, when the pin 76 passes from the sliding position shown by a broken line into the locked state shown by a solid line. This potential energy is required the other way round in order to release the control console 32 from the locked operating position. The difference in height

h is therefore to be selected such that, at a given total weight of the control console 32 and the parts fastened thereto the control console 32 is safely locked in an operating position, but the locking can also be released again without too great an effort.

[0070] In this case, the force required for releasing the locking is determined by the total weight and by an angle 102 which the flank 92 designed as an inclined plane assumes relative to the horizontal. The smaller this angle 102 selected, the smaller is the force which has to be applied for releasing the locking.

[0071] When the pin 76 assumes the locking position in the recess 86, all the kinetic energy of the control console 32 and the potential energy corresponding to the difference in height

h has to be absorbed suddenly by the sleeve 78. In order to counteract wear phenomena on the pin 76 and the recess 86, the inner contour of the recess 86 is adapted exactly to the outer contour of the pin 76. The pin 76, when sliding down into the recess 86, then no longer bears against the sleeve 78 along a line but along a surface. On account of the substantially larger bearing surface, considerably lower pressure forces occur in this way, as a result of which the wear of the parts involved is counteracted.

[0072] In addition, the adaptation of the corresponding surfaces has the advantage that the pin 76, once it has assumed its locking position in the recess 86, can still slide a short distance along a perpendicular flank 104 opposite the inclined flank 92. As a result, the pin 76 and thus also the top joint body 46 with the control console 32 fastened thereto move upwards by a very short distance in the direction of an arrow 106, a factor which is indicated by an additional dotted contour of the pin 76. This results in a type of damping effect, since the movement of the pin 76 is not braked suddenly, but is deflected upwards. This effect leads to additional protection of the parts bearing against one another. 

Therefore, what I claim is:
 1. A machine tool for machining workpieces, said machine tool having a working space for receiving said workpieces, a housing enclosing said working space, said housing having at least a first wall, a control console for controlling operation of said machine tool at least when machining said workpieces, and a joint fastened to said first wall and to said control console, said joint defining a vertical axis, such that the control console can be swiveled about said vertical axis, wherein the control console is rigidly connected to the joint.
 2. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the joint and the control console are arranged at a same level relative to said housing.
 3. The machine tool of claim 2, wherein the first wall has a side edge, the vertical axis essentially coinciding with said side edge.
 4. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the control console has a rear side that is free of operating elements and has a side edge, the vertical axis essentially coinciding with said side edge of said rear side.
 5. The machine tool of claim 4, wherein the control console is connected to the joint via a bearer.
 6. The machine tool of claim 5, wherein the bearer is rigidly fastened to said rear side of the control console.
 7. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the control console can be swivelled between two operating positions, at least one of said two operating positions being self-locking.
 8. The machine tool of claim 7, wherein the at least one self-locking operating position is established by the joint.
 9. A machine tool as in claim 8, wherein in the at least one self-locking operating position, the control console is lowered relative to intermediate positions it assumes between the two operating positions.
 10. A machine tool for machining workpieces, said machine tool having a working space for receiving said workpieces, a housing enclosing said working space, said housing having at least a first wall, a control console for controlling operation of said machine tool at least when machining said workpieces, and a joint fastened to said first wall and to said control console, said joint defining a vertical axis such that the control console can be swivelled about said vertical axis, wherein the joint defines a first and at least one further operating position of the control console and is designed such that at least said first operating position is self-locking.
 11. The machine tool of claim 10, wherein the joint has two joint bodies which are arranged one above the other and are rotatable relative to one another about the vertical axis, a guide body being formed on one joint body and a guide surface being formed on the other joint body, the guide surface having at least one recess for locating the guide body, this recess establishing the first operating position.
 12. A machine tool for machining workpieces, said machine tool having a working space for receiving said workpieces, a housing enclosing said working space, said housing having at least a first wall, a control console for controlling operation of said machine tool at least when machining said workpieces, and a joint fastened to said first wall and to said control console, said joint defining a vertical axis such that the control console can be swivelled about said vertical axis between at least two operating positions, wherein the joint has two joint bodies which are arranged one above the other and are rotatable relative to one another about the vertical axis, a guide body being formed on a first of the two joint bodies and a guide surface being formed on the second of the two joint bodies, the guide surface having at least one recess for locating the guide body, the recess establishing a self-locking operating position.
 13. The machine tool of claim 12, wherein the at least one recess has a flank, via which the guide body is guided when assuming the self-locking operating position.
 14. The machine tool of claim 13, wherein the flank is designed as an inclined plane.
 15. The machine tool of claim 12, wherein the at least one recess is adapted in its shape to the guide body, so that, in the at least one self-locking operating position, the guide body is located with surface contact in the recess.
 16. The machine tool of claim 15, wherein the guide body is designed as a pin having a circumferential contour, and wherein the at least one recess has a curved section adapted to said circumferential contour of the pin, such that the pin can oscillate slightly in the at least one recess.
 17. The machine tool of claim 12, wherein the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console.
 18. The machine tool of claim 1, wherein the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console.
 19. The machine tool of claim 10, wherein the control console is connected to the machine tool via a cable string which comes out of the control console at its top end and enters the housing at a level below the control console. 